Marking device



G. S WHITMORE MARKING DEVICE Nov. 11, 1930.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001;. 24, 1928 Y 6. 6. Adv/7770a:

G. S. WHITMORE MARKING DEVICE Nov. 11, 1930.

Filed 001:. 24, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 6. hdy/r/va/es (Riots Lu Patented Nov. 11, 1930 1 ATLE NT QFFICE GEORGE s. WHITMORE, or YAKIMA, WASHINGTON MARKING DEVICE Application filed. October 24, 1923. Serial 1%. 314,777.

orchardaccording to variety and grade and the boxes are marked to indicate the grade,

the variety and theweight of'the contents ofthe box. Ordinarily the boxes have hereto'fore beenmarked .by different stamps, one 'for-grade one forvariety and one for weight, requiring three operations to. properly mark thebox, and: as a result of the threeindependent operations resulting generally in a very poorly marked box in which oneor more of the markings are quite liable to be illegible.

'The: present invention is designed to present inra'singlexmarker the various-stamps necessary aas to diiferent grades, different .25 varieties and .diiferentweights, so that all of the stamps may be arranged in the printing line and the ;boxes,rwhen marked,:will pre sent the data inasingle line and at uniform impression, with the result of better marked boxes with materially less time and labor required in the marking.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a resilient cushion for directly supportingthe-printing elements to thereby facilitate asubstantiallyeven impression, notwithstanding the. rather uneven surface of the box towhich theprintingis to-be applied.

The invention is illustrated in the accomzpanying drawings, in which Figure leis a view in elevation of the improved marking implement. a

qFigure is a. section onlinet2-:2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3', is. a sectional view illustrating 'morepaitticularly the provision ofthe resiltient-acushionrfor supporting the printing characters.

Figure 4 is. a: section on line Jr-4 of *Fig iuezl. i r

Figure 5 is a perspective View of one of the numbering disks.

Figure 6 is a sectional view, partly in elevation,'illustrating the means for holding the respective printing disks in adjusted position during printing operation against casualdisplacement. v

Figure 7 is a perspective-view :ofone of the holders for the resilient-cushion-and type.

Figure 8 is a broken perspective view showing lhe resilient cushion and type separated in orderto indicate their manner of assembly.

The improved marker comprises end plates 1 and 2 loosely supported upon a shaft 3, a series of partitions 4 being also loosely supported upon the shaft intermediate the end plates. The end plates and partitions are of duplicate form, their lower portions beingconcentric with the shaft from which said plates and partitions extend in convergent form and at the end remoteflom the shaft 3 such end plates and partitions are connected by a rod 5 on which intermediate the end platesand adjacent partitions and intermediate the partitions is arranged a series of blocks 6.

The blocks 6 have an exterior form corresponding to the outline of the partitions and end plates and extend a sufficient distance inwardly of the -rod 5' to aiford a handle portion by means of which the marker is manipulated. It is understood that the blocks 6 and edges of the end plates and partitions are in coincidence throughout the length of the handle portion to provide a smooth handle without obstruct-ion, and'if desired a pin 7 may he used to secure the relatively inner end of eachblock against "play relative to the adjacent end plate or partition.

The marking elements, indicatedat 8, are loosely arrangedon the shaft 3-an'd rotatable thereon at will. These elements are of a size to fit between theend plate and adjacent partition'or between adjacent partitions, as the case :may be, so that they may be independently.adjusted:.to arrange any desired data in theprinting line. Themarking elements each comprise a .polygonal block, preferably iofxwood, presenting fiat-surfaces 9. 100

On each of the surfaces 9 is secured a holder, preferably a metallic strip 10, having relatively convergent edge walls 11, so that the holder presents in effect an undercut channel member.

The holders, which are preferably of light metal, are secured to the respective surfaces f each member 8, as by screws 12, and

preferably such holders will be of somewhat less len 'th than the corres ondin dimenb v 1 a S1011 of the surface'to whicnthey are attached. Removably secured in each holder .in the channel 15 of the cushion.

'ZlCEtlCllIIlGIlSlOll of the cuslnon is somewhat is a resilient cushion 13, preferably of soft rubber, as sponge rubber.

The cushion is. of a size to lit the holder, having its side walls 14 upwardly convergent so that, when moved longitudinally into the holder, the parts are locked against separation through other than a relatively endwise sliding movementQ Theupper surface of the cushion is recessed at15 andthe marking type, preferably a rubber strip 16 having integrally: formed thereon'the desired characters 17, is cemented greater than that of the holder, so that thereby the type are supported wholly free of obstruction for the printing operation.

Each block 8 is provided at one end with a pin 18 slidable in a bore 19 formed in one end of the block in parallelism to the axis, a

' spring 20 serving to normally project the pin beyond the end of the block.

Each par; tition is formed with openings 21 in linewith the pin of the adjacent block, the openings in the partitions correspondingin number'to the number of printing surfaces on the block. Thus, as the block is turned to present a desired printing surface, the pin 18 thereof engages in one of the openings or recesses 21 in the adjacent partition and holds 7 V the block in the desiredprinting relation.

plate, as 1, is arranged a coil spring 25.

As )reviousl stated. the end lates oarti- V tions and members8 are arranged loosely upon the shaf-t3. This shaft is'headed at 22 beyond one end plate, as 2, and is provided beyond the opposite end plate with a terminal nut 23 overlying a washer 241 and be; tween which Washer and the adjacent end This construction provides for the necessary freedom of movement of the various parts to permit convenient adjustment of'the members following adjustment, to move the end plates,

partitions and members 8 into more or less 7 intimate contact to present a substantially rigidfdevicefor useinmarking. V c

i H Itis frequently desirableto combine with the marking .of: the grade, variety and amount, a number to indicate the grower, it being customary in some localities to use such numbers,for the large shippers iden-tify the growers by number rather than by name to facilitate the clerical work necessary to The ver- 7 8 when desired, the spring 25 serving,

carry on the business. Under these CiICllIIi-' stances, a plurality of numbering dlsks 26 may be mounted on the shaft 3 between one end plate, as 2, andthe adjacent partition. These numbering disks have printing type corresponding to the numbers 0 to 9, on the respective surfaces of the block, so that by adjustment of the blocks any number up to 999 may be arranged in the printing line.

The type of the numbering disks are cemented directly tothe faces of the disks as interchange is not necessary, in this use. The holding pins described in connection with the members ,8 will also be used in connection with thenunibering disks, as indi cated at2'7 in Figure 1 In the use of the implement,;the-members 8, together withthenumbering disks if such are to be used, are adjusted to present the required data in alignment at: the bottom of the" implement, which is the printing line. The type are then inkedjbypressing the same onto any desired type of inkpad and the entire data required to be imprinted on the box is applied by a single impression of the implement. By reasonof the resilient cushion, the, printing will be maintained uniform,

regular and of substantially even impression, notwithstanding the somewhat uneven surface to which the impression'is applied,

and as it is important that the data be clearly legible at all times, it will be seen that the and partitions are looselyv mounted, 'a series of marking members loosely mounted on said shaft 'betweenthe end plate. and adjacent partitions and between the respective partitions, each marking-member being movable independently on the shaft; means whereby each marking member may be. temporarily secured with respect to the adjacent parti- "tion, and means on the shaftfbeyond one 'end plate to hold" the parts in more or less rigid connection following the movement of the member 2. A marking member comprising aishaft,

a series of division plates loosely mounted thereon, said division :plates being extended in'onedirection beyond the shaft, blocks intermediate the division plates beyond the shaft to provide with said division platesa' handle, marking members loosely mo untedv on the shaft between the division plates, type carried by the marking members, and means on the marking members to cooperate with the division plates to prevent casual displacement of the marking members.

3. A marking member comprising a shaft, a series of division plates loosely mounted thereon, said division plates being extended in one direction beyond the shaft, blocks intermediate the division plates beyond the shaft to provide with said division plates a handle, marking members loosely mounted on the shaft between the division plates, type carried by the marking members, means on the marking members to cooperate with the division plates to prevent casual displacement of the marking members, and aspring exerting pressure on all the division plates and members to hold them in adjusted position against casual displacement.

4. A marking device comprising end plates, a series of partitions corresponding in size and shape to the end plates, a rod passing through the end plates and partitions near one end thereof, blocks loosely mounted on the rod and arranged between the end plates and adjacent partitions and between each of the partitions to space the partitions on the rod and provide a handle for the implement, a shaft mounted in the end plates and partitions remote from the blocks, a series of marking members rotatable on the shaft and arranged in succession between the end plates and adjacent partitions and between the partitions, and means for temporarily interlocking each marking member with its adjacent partition.

5. A marking device comprising end plates, a series of partitions corresponding in size and shape to the end plates, a rod passing through the end plates and partitions near one end thereof, blocks loosely mounted on the rod and arranged between the end plates and adjacent partitions and between each of the partitions to space the partitions on the rod and provide a handle for the implement, a shaft mounted in the end plates and partitions remote from the blocks, a series of marking members rotatable on the shaft and arranged in succession between the end plates and adjacent partitions and between the partitions, means for temporarily interlocking each marking member with its adjacent partition, the axial length of the respective blocks and of the respective and vertically aligned marking members being equal, means carried by the rod to confine the partitions and blocks, and means carried by the shaft to yieldingly confine the partitions and marking members.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE s. WHITMORE. 1 8. 

